Lake McSwain Offers Year Round Fishing For Brook, Rainbow and Brown Trout, by Dan Bacher

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Lake McSwain Offers Year Round Fishing For Brook, Rainbow and Brown Trout

By: Dan Bacher
October 1, 2000

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Lake McSwain, the afterbay of Lake McClure, offers year round fishing for brook, rainbow and brown trout. It is a popular fishery among San Joaquin Valley fishermen, since it is heavily stocked with trout and has excellent bank and boat access.

The 7 mile long reservoir, located on the Merced River near Snelling, is planted both by the Department of Fish and Game and Calaveras Fish Farm. "The DFG trades water for fish from the Calaveras Fish Farm," said John Kemper, owner of the Lake McSwain Marina.

So far this year, the DFG has made 14 plants of trout, while the Calaveras facility has made 16 plants. On Thursday, September 28, the DFG planted 1,000 pounds of brook trout averaging over 1 pound each. "We weighed in two brookies weighing 1-1/2 pounds each today," said Kemper.

This year the DFG is planting a total of 15,000 pounds of trout, including 5,000 rainbows and 10,000 brookies, according to Jim Groh of the DFG's Moccasin Creek Fish Hatchery. Earlier this year, the Calaveras Fish Farm stocked 1,000 pounds of browns weighing 2 to 4 pounds.

Trollers find the top action using silver/Blue Kastmasters, firetiger #7 or perch Rapalas, and nightcrawlers behind flashers along the east side of the lake, particularly from the chimney to the second fence line, advised Kemper. Bank anglers find success fishing near the marina and off the handicapped dock with Power Bait, nightcrawlers and a variety of lures.

One advantage of fishing McSwain is that the water level is steady all year, in contrast to the larger storage reservoirs that are drawn down considerably in the summer and late fall.

A few largemouth bass and bluegill are found in the warmer coves of the lakes; Chris Dunham and I had fun catching some bluegills in one of the coves 7 years ago at McSwain. However, trout are what most anglers pursue here, and there are plenty of them.

Although most of the fish caught here are planted trout, some holdover and wild fish are also found in the lake.

The lake features a campground, marina, double boat ramp, boat rentals, gas, bait and groceries. For more information, contact Lake McSwain Marina, (209) 378-2534.